As campaigns for the phase out of Mercury-based Dentistry in Africa continued to gain momentum, the campaigners have called on the Nigeria Government to intensify efforts toward implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for Mercury-free Dentistry across the country.
It is reported that Mercury is a neurotoxin, can damage children’s developing brains and nervous systems even before they are born. Dental amalgam fillings are 50% mercury, a major neurotoxin.
The restriction of its use is demanded worldwide in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted by more than 140 governments including Nigeria, in Kumamoto Japan.
The theme of this COP1 was to “make mercury history” showing the international will to deal with mercury including dental amalgam.
Since then and after so many debates and advocacy at COP 1 in 2017 and COP2 in 2018, it has been introduced by the Africa Region an amendment to the Convention asking and proposing a set of dates to achieve a phase out of dental amalgam by 2024.
In May 2014, the Regional workshop held in Abuja involving 40 NGOs from African nations declared that Africa shall be the first continent to phase out amalgam.
Subsequently, the draft of national policy on dental amalgam phase-down has been concluded and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health for National Stakeholders adoption.
The Nigeria Dental Association (NDA) current position to phase-out dental amalgam use in vulnerable groups (Children, pregnant and lactating women) is December 3, 2025 while for the entire population is December 31, 2030.
In a zoom meeting with the media recently, campaigners from various countries gave an overview of steps taken by their governments, to which most African countries including Tanzania, Gabon and Cameroon have phased out Mercury-based dentistry.
Speaking, the President, World Alliance for Mercury-free Dentistry, Barr. Charlie Brown, said it was 10 years since the flagship of the convention and campaign for Mercury-free dentistry in Nigeria, and the government was yet to implement its policy document.
Brown explained that during Abuja Declaration in 2014, a foundational commitment by African civil society groups to end the use of mercury in dentistry was initiated.
He reiterated that the draft of national policy on dental amalgam phase-down has been concluded and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health for National Stakeholders adoption.
According to him, it has become imperative to completely phase out Mercury-based dentistry considering the inherent health implications.
Highlighting some of the health hazards, Brown said that mercury-laden fillings can cause brain damage in children and other health issues such as nerve damage, headaches, and kidney problems.
“About 140 governments of the the world are involved in the campaign for Mercury-free dentistry, to which most of the African countries like Cameroon, Gabon and Tanzania among others have phased it out.
“Our target is for evey country to phase out Mercury-based dentistry by 2030.
“From now – 2026 to 2030 is no where far; let the Nigeria Government expedite efforts to implement the national policy document for Mercury-free dentistry as have done in many African countries,” he said.
Shedding more light, Brown emphasised the need for direction on the national policy for Mercury-free dentistry through the office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment.
He warned that dental amalgam fillings were 50% mercury, a major neurotoxin, stressing that its continuous use no more justified because alternatives were now affordable, effective and available in Nigeria.
The World Alliance President, therefore, called on the federal government to urgently implement a national action plan to transition the country into mercury-free dentistry, and totally start phasing out amalgam in hospitals.
“This is a call to governments to make amalgam history by imposing a total ban of dental amalgam in milk teeth and in pregnant and nursing women since 2015.
“Hence, the need for a national programme to educate consumers and parents that amalgam is mainly mercury and that they have choices in the dental care – promote alternative restoration materials that are affordable,” Brown said.
It was recalled that Tanzania Ministry of Health recently issued a directive to all public and private hospitals, as well as private dental clinics, to cease the use of traditional dental amalgam in a landmark move for public health and environmental safety.
Instead, healthcare providers must now utilise a modern, tooth-colored restorative material known as Cention N, which is free from hazardous mercury components.
